Suction pump



Patented July 2, 1946 l sUCTIoNPUMP Walter A. Dunham, United States Army Application April 27, 1945, Serial No. 590,567

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 6 Claims.

obtained which may be controlled and maintained at a degree suitable for the desired purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum creating apparatus of the class described which is automatic in operation, sturdy and economical in construction and easily operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described provided with a valvular system in which no mechanical operating partsl are used, which might develop defects due to friction and wear, one 'in which no adjustments are required, and which may be more cheaply constructed from readily obtainable and economical materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which may be readily carried from place to place in the hands of a single worker without damage to the device.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are indicated by similar reference characters:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the assembled apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a sectionized elevation, the section being taken on a mid-line, longitudinally through the frame, containers, and valve chambers.

Briefly stated, the invention relates to Va val-V vular system of a gravity actuated vacuum apparatus generally termed a Waggensteen by the medical profession. The Waggensteenf consists primarily of two containers provided with communicating tubular conduits. The containers are usually transparent jars, one of which is suspended above the other in such a manner that the first upper jar, being filled with water, will drain into the lower jar, and both of them, together with their tubular connections, are so arranged that their respective positions of one above the other can be reversed at will. The water being drained out of the upper jar creates a partial vacuum therein, which may be used for any suitable purpose. The positions of the two jars may be reversed immediately before the upper jar has completely emptied into the lower, thereby effecting an almost continuous suction.

The valvular system set forth herein is so constructed and arranged that, when the positions ofthe two jars are reversed, the valves will permit the air under pressure in the lower jar, caused by the ingress of water from the upper jar, to escape into the atmosphere land thus prevent it from entering the upper jar, where it would decrease the partial vacuum created therein. The valvular system is also arranged so that the suction of the intake pipe to the vacuum forming bottle or container will be continuous and uniform.

The apparatus comprises a body member or frame I0 having a liquid container II and II' at each end thereof, which containers may be formed either integrally with the frame or as separate glass containers which are held within the frame by retaining members I2. The frame, which may be formed of wood, metal, transparent plastic, or other suitable material, is preferably tapered centrally to allow the device to be more easily handled. To insure stability, the device, which is manipulated like an hour glass and which resembles the same both in shape and operation, is formed with flat ends so that it may be stood upright on first one end and then the other upon a flat surface to allow liquid in the upper container to drain into the lower container as will be further described. The two containers II and Il are connected by drain tube I3 and container tubes I4, I4' and I5, I5', as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which clearly illustrate the construction of the tubular connections. It will be noted that the tube I3 forms a straight tubular passage between the containers II and I I which terminates at the inner surfaces of the Stoppers I6 and I6. This tube is adapted to drain liquid from the container which is in an upper position into the container which is in a lower position, depending upon which end of the device is placed uponr a substantially horizontal surface. The drain tube I3 may be furnished with a valve I3 to control theiiow of liquid from one container to the other.

The tubes I4, I4 are the vacuum tubes through which airr is drawn into the upper container as the liquid therein drains through the tube I3 into the lower container. These tubes extend from a location adjacent base I I of the upper container and from a similar 4location adjacent inlet chamber and from said outlet chamber, container inlet tubes connected to said containers and extending from the remote ends thereof to the interior of said inlet seal chamber, the tube from the uppermost container terminating above the surface of the mercury contained therein, and the tube from the lower container terminating below the surface of said mercury so as to allow passage of air from the inlet chamber to the uppermost container to replace liquid drained therefrom, container outlet tubes connected to said containers and extending from the proximal ends thereof to the interior of said outlet charnber, the tube from the uppermost container terminating beneath the surface of the mercury contained therein, and the tube from the lower container terminating above the surface of said mercury so as to allow passage of air from the lower container as it is expelled by the liquid drained from the upper container.

4. A vacuum pump comprising a frame adapted to be placed alternately on either end thereof, a container mounted within each end of said frame. a drain tube connecting adjacent ends of said containers and adapted to allow liquid to drain from the upper to the lower container, inlet and outlet seal chambers adapted to be partially filled with mercury, and located centrally within the frame, chamber inlet and outlet tubes connected centrally to said inlet and outlet chambers on the longitudinal axes thereof and adapted to allow passage of air to said inlet chamber and from said outlet chamber, container inlet tubes connected to said containers and extending from the remote ends thereof to the interior of said inlet seal chamber, the tube from the uppermost container terminating above the surface of the mercury contained therein, and the tube from the lower container terminating below the surface of said mercury so as to allow passage of air from the inlet chamber to the uppermost container, container outlet tubes connected to said containers and extending from the proximal ends thereof to the interior of said outlet chamber, the tube from the uppermost container terminating beneath the surface of the mercury contained therein, and the tube from the lower container terminating above the surface of said mercury so as to allow air from the lower container to be expelled through'said chamber outlet tube. n f

5. A vacuum pump comprising a frame adapted to be placed alternately on either end thereof, a container at each end of said frame, a drain tube connecting said containers, means forming inlet and outlet seal chambers mounted on said frame between said containers and adapted to contain a pool of mercury, said chambers each having an opening to the atmosphere at a point substantially midway between the upper and lower ends thereof, container inlet tubes connected to said containers and extending from the remote ends thereof to the interior of said inlet seal chamber, the tube from the uppermost container terminating above the surface of the mercury contained in said chamber and the tube from the lower container terminating below the surface of said mercury, container outlet tubes connected to said containers and extending from the proximal ends thereof to the interior of said outlet chamber, the tube from the uppermost container terminating beneath the surface of the mercury contained therein and the tube from the lower container terminating above the surface of said mercury so as to allow passage of air from the lower container as it is expelled by the liquid drained from the upper container.

6. A vacuum pump comprising a frame adapted to be placed alternately on either end thereof, a container at each end of said frame, a drain tube connecting said containers, means forming an inlet seal chamber mounted on said frame between said containers and adapted to contain a pool of mercury, said chamber having an opening to the atmosphere at a pointv substantially midway between the upper and lower ends thereof, container inlet tubes connected to said containers and extending from the remote ends thereof to the interior of said seal chambenthe tube from the uppermost container terminating above the surface of the mercury normally contained therein and the tube from the lower container terminating below the surface of said mercury, said tubes having intermediate portions more remote from the respective containers to which they are connected than the ends of the tubes, and means for permitting air to escape from the lower container as liquid drains thereinto from the uppermost container.

WALTER A. DUNHAM. 

